June 2001
PICKS OF THE WEEK
CROUCHING
TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON (Columbia/Tri-Star)
Starring Chow Yun Fat, Michelle Yeoh, Zhang
Ziyi
The acclaimed film and four-time Oscar winner comes to homevideo. DVD
features include:
Digitally mastered audio and anamorphic video
Audio commentary by director Ang Lee and executive producer James Schamus
BRAVO "Making-Of" special
Conversation with Michelle Yeoh featurette
Photo montage
Website link
Trailers
Filmographies
Widescreen
$27.96
WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE (Anchor
Bay)
Starring Rutger Hauer, Gene Simmons, Robert Guillame.
Admittedly, this action/adventure based loosely on the old Steve McQueen
television series (according to the film, McQueen's character is an ancestor of
Hauer's Josh Randall), won't win any Academy Awards. But it is one of the more
entertaining, low-budget shoot-em-ups from the era of revenge-oriented action
films. The cast is responsible for most of the film's success - Hauer is a
glowering hero with a chip on his shoulder the size of Manhattan. And KISS's
Gene Simmons is absolutely hateful as the film's bad guy. Add those performances
to the film's intense action sequences and explosive finale and "Wanted:
Dead of Alive" is a lot of fun. DVD features include:
Widescreen presentation
Theatrical trailers
24.98. Also available on VHS at $9.99.
Also new this week
ALL THE KING'S MEN (Columbia/Tri-Star)
Starring Broderick
Crawford, Mercedes McCambridge, John Ireland, John Derek
The classic film, Academy Award winner for Best Picture in 1949, is released to
DVD. Crawford also won the Oscar for Best Actor that year. DVD features include:
Filmographies
Trailers
Full screen presentation
$24.95
BEAR IN THE BIG BLUE HOUSE
(Columbia/Tri-Star)
Two new videos from the popular television
program are released: "Sharing with Friends" and "Safe and
Sound." Each is priced at $12.95.
CHRISTINA AGUILERA: MY REFLECTION (Image)
A live concert
performance by the hit singer featuring special guests Brian McKnight, Dr. John
and Li'l Bow Wow. Also included are behind-the-scenes footage, home movies and
interviews. $19.99. Also available on VHS.
DVD TITLES (Anchor Bay)
The following films are
released to DVD:
NIGHTWATCH (NATTEVAGTEN) The original Danish film
that the eerie 1999 remake starring Nick Nolte and Josh Brolin was based on. DVD
features:
Widescreen
Dolby Surround 5.1
Optional English subtitles
Audio commentary with Director Ole Bornedal
Theatrical Trailer
$29.98. Also available on VHS at $14.98
THE BOYS NEXT DOOR starring Charlie Sheen and Maxwell
Caulfield. DVD features include:
Widescreen presentation
Theatrical Trailer
Talent Bios
Audio commentary with Penelope Spheeris and Maxwell Caulfield
$24.98. Also available on VHS at $9.99
Other titles include: DIVA; A BLADE IN THE DARK; MACABRE;
THE LAST TATTOO; TOO LATE THE HERO; MOUNTAINTOP MOTEL MASSACRE; THE VINEYARD;
DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR; MIDNIGHT MADNESS.
KIPPER TITLES (Lyrick)
Two new videos, based on the books by
best-selling author Mick Inkpen, are released. Both follow the adventures of the
curious considerate hound, Kipper, and his animal friends. Titles include:
"Pools, Parks and Picnics" and "Tiger Tales." 60m each;
$9.99 each.
LUCIO FULCI TITLES (Anchor Bay)
Three new titles from
the master of horror gore are released to DVD:
THE HOUSE BY THE CEMETERY starring Paolo Malco and
Catriona MacColl. DVD features include:
Widescreen
Dolby Surround 2.0
Trailers
TV Spot
Still Gallery
Talent bios
THE BLACK CAT starring David Warbeck, Patrick Magee. DVD
features include:
Widescreen
Theatrical Trailer
Lucio Fulci bio
MANHATTAN BABY starring Giovanni Frezza, Carlo DeMejo. DVD
features include:
Widescreen
Talent bios
Trailer
Interview with screenwriter Dardano Sachetti
Each is priced at $29.98.
MUPPETS DVD (Columbia/Tri-Star)
The following Muppets
films are released on DVD:
THE MUPPETS TAKE MANHATTAN featuring cameo
appearances by Joan Rivers, Gregory Hines, Art Carney and more. DVD features
include:
Jim Henson interview
"Muppetisms"
Trailers
Full screen and widescreen
$19.95
THE MUPPET MOVIE featuring cameos by Charles Durning,
Edgar Bergen, Bob Hope, Mel Brooks and many more. DVD features include:
Jim Frawley's camera test
"Muppetisms"
Trailers
Full Screen and widescreen presentation
$19.95
POISON'S GREATEST VIDEO HITS (Capitol)
Released to coincide
with the band's current tour with WARRANT, QUIET RIOT and ENUFF Z'NUFF, this DVD
contains 17 of the glam metal band's hottest videos, remastered in Dolby 5.1
Surround sound. For more information, please visit http://www.poisonweb.com.
ROBOTECH: THE MACROSS SAGA (ADV)
The original Robotech
series comes to DVD. Titles include: "The Macross Saga: First
Contact," "The Macross Saga: Transformation" and each contains
six episodes each. Also available is "The Macross Saga 1: The Robotech
Legacy" which contains a special edition Extras disc at $44.95.
SELL-THROUGH TITLES (Columbia/Tri-Star)
The following films are released at $9.95
each:
DICK
THE SUBURBANS
BATS
LOVE STINKS
UNIVERSAL SOLDIER
DESERT HEAT
THE KARATE KID
THE KARATE KID 2
THE KARATE KID 3
JUMANJI
LOOK WHO'S TALKING
LOOK WHO'S TALKING TOO
LOOK WHO'S TALKING NOW
BINGO
Many are also available with Spanish subtitles.
WWF TITLES (WWF)
The following World Wrestling Federation
titles are released:
INSURREXTION (U.K. event never before seen in the U.S.); 180m; $19.95
BACKLASH starring Triple H; 180m; $19.95
WRESTLEMANIA X-SEVEN starring The Rock; 240m; 2-DVD set:
$34.95
X-MEN: THE ANIMATED SERIES (Universal)
A collection of episodes from the original
animated X-Men television series. Released are six VHS and two
DVD ($14.98) collections. VHS titles include "Reunion Part I,"
"Reunion Part II," "Out of the Past Part 1," "Out of
the Past Part II," "No Mutant Is an Island," "The Lotus and
the Steel," "Sanctuary Part 1," "Sanctuary Part II,"
"Weapon X, Lies and Videotape," "Proteus Part I,"
"Proteus Part II," "One Man's Worth Part 1," "One Man's
Worth Part II." $9.98 each.
PICKS OF THE WEEK
O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU? (Warner Bros.)
Starring George Clooney, John Turturro, John Goodman,
Holly Hunter, Tim Blake Nelson
The Coen brothers do it again! Joel and Ethan (who are also responsible for
"The Hudsucker Proxy" and "Fargo," and many others) are
behind this re-telling of Homer's "Odyssey" in which Clooney stars as
an escaped convict who enlists a couple of his convict pals to retrieve a hidden
treasure. Only not everything is as it seems. An utterly original and hilarious
motion picture that dares you to take your eyes off of it with a tremendous
performance by all, especially Clooney who is so different yet so real here you
won't believe what you're seeing. Also available on DVD
featuring:
Closed-captioned
Making of Featurette
"Soggy Bottom Boys" Music Video
Widescreen anamorphic format
$29.98
Also new this week
ALL REVVED UP (MGM)
Starring John Turturro, Lili Taylor, Will Patton
After her car is stolen by the same guy twice, a woman puts together a group of
friends to avenge the car-theft ring. Rated R; 83m. Also
available on DVD.
CASTAWAY (Fox/Dreamworks)
Starring Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt
Hanks stars in his Academy Award-nominated role as a man who is abandoned on an
island, completely by himself, his will to survive and his return to
civilization. From director Robert Zemeckis. Also
available on a special double-DVD set featuring:
Color, Closed-captioned, DTS Surround Sound, Widescreen
Commentary by director Robert Zemeckis & Crew
Theatrical trailer(s)
The Charlie Rose Show interview with Tom Hanks
Wilson: The Life and Death of a Hollywood Extra featurette
The Island featurette
HBO First Look Documentary
Surviving as a Castaway Survivalists Documentary
Special Effects Vignettes
Concept Art Gallery
Storyboard-To-Film Comparison
Widescreen anamorphic format
$29.98
CHEECH AND CHONG TITLES
(Columbia/Tri-Star)
The following titles starring the legendary team of
Cheech & Chong are released to DVD:
NICE DREAMS starring C&C and Sandra Bernhard. DVD
features include:
Digitally Mastered audio and anamorphic video
Trailers
Filmographies
Full screen and widescreen
$19.95
THINGS ARE TOUGH ALL OVER starring C&C. DVD features
include:
Digitally Mastered audio and anamorphic video
Trailers
Filmographies
Full screen and widescreen
$19.95
COMING OUT (First Run)
Hailed as the first and only feature film about gay life ever produced in
communist East Germany, this film by Henier Carow is the story of a young
teacher who, as a boy, was attracted to his male best but who hides his sexual
preferences until he falls in love and can no longer hide. In German with
English subtitles. 108m; $24.95. Also available on DVD at
$29.95.
COPS AND ROBBERSONS (Columbia/Tri-Star)
Starring Chevy Chase, Jack Palance, Dianne Wiest
The comedy is released to DVD. When the FBI discovers that a mob hitman has
moved in next door to the Robbersons, they put one of their men - the
hard-nosed, tough-as-nails Jake Stone - in the Robberson's home to keep an eye
out. Unfortunately, his hard attitude doesn't mesh well with the Robberson's
family. Rated PG; 92m. DVD features include:
Trailers
Filmographies
Full Screen and Widescreen
MEGA BABIES (Sony Wonder)
The Fox Family series about rambunctious babies Meg, Derrick and Buck
comes to homevideo. Released are two new video with four episodes each. Titles
include: "Nursery Slimes" and "Destructive Nature." 45m;
$12.95 each.
VIBRATION (First Run)
Starring Essy Persson
The original erotic film from the 60s is released for the first time ever on
homevideo and DVD. The film is the story of
Mauritz, a frustrated writer who goes to Sweden and becomes romantically
involved first with one woman, then another. DVD features
include:
"Vibration" trailer
Other cult and erotic trailers
$29.95
THE WEDDING PARTY (First Look)
Starring Cate Blanchett, Richard Roxburg, Frances O'Connor
A man on his way to the alter begins to relive his romance with his previous
girlfriend and his thoughts lead him to believe that maybe he's marrying the
wrong woman. Rated R; 91m. Also available on DVD.
WHEN THE WALL CAME TUMBLING DOWN (First Run)
A riveting documentary about the falling of the Berlin Wall featuring
never-before-seen footage and interviews with the likes of General Secretary
Gorbachev, President George Bush, Chancellor Kohl, ministers and high-ranking
officers. 89m. $29.95
PICKS OF THE WEEK
PAUL MCCARTNEY: LIVE AT THE CAVERN CLUB
(Image)
The legendary Beatle as he was recorded live at Liverpool's Cavern Club
in December 14, 1999 before an audience of only about 300 (wouldn't you have
liked tickets to that show). The Cavern Club was renowned for the 280 early
Beatles performances there and this concert was recorded at the newly rebuilt
club. (The original was demolished in 1982). Performing with McCartney are an
incredible batch of musicians: David Gilmour of PINK FLOYD, Nick Green of THE
PIRATES, Ian Paice of DEEP PURPLE and Pete Wingfield of the HOUSEMARTINIS. This
incredible band performs songs by McCartney's "Run Devil Run" album as
well as tunes by Little Richard, Ricky Nelson and Elvis Presley. DVD
features include:
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
A video interview with McCartney
Music Videos
Biographies
VHS: $19.98
DVD: $24.99
THE PLEDGE (Warner Bros.)
Starring Jack Nicholson, Robin Wright Penn, Benicio Del Toro, Sam
Shepard, Mickey Rourke
Nicholson stars as a cop who becomes completely obsessed by an unsolved murder
case during his last days on the force in this film by Sean Penn. A brilliant
film with a all-consuming performance by Nicholson, but very, very grim.
Definitely not for everyone. Rated R; 123m; Also available
on DVD featuring:
Widescreen presentation
Dolby Digital 5.1 audio
Cast/Filmmaker Career Highlights
Theatrical Trailer
English and French subtitles
Also new this week
THE BLACKOUT (Columbia/Tri-Star)
Starring Matthew Modine, Dennis Hopper, Claudia Schiffer
A movie star battling substance abuse blacks out one night and has no idea what
he's done. Going sober, it isn't until a year later that he begins to wonder
what happened that night and what he might have done. Rated R; 100m. Also
available on DVD featuring:
Digitally mastered audio
Filmographies
Widescreen
DEMOLITION HIGH (Artisan)
Starring Corey Haim, Alan Thicke, Dick Van Patten
A group of militant thugs takes over a high school and only a student with a
martial arts flair can stop them. Rated R; 84m.
DISAPPEARING ACTS (HBO)
Starring Wesley Snipes, Sanna Lathan, Q-Tip, CCH Pounder
Terry McMillan's best-selling novel comes to the small screen in this
made-for-cable film about love and sacrifice in which a construction worker and
a struggling songwriter fight to make everything work just right. Rated R; 116m.
Also available on DVD featuring:
Featurette with Terry McMillan
Three additional clips with Snipes and Lathan performing excerpts from the book;
Biographies
Dolby Surround
English, French and Spanish subtitles
THE GARDEN OF THE FINZI CONTINIS (Columbia/Tri-Star)
Starring Dominique Sanda, Helmut Berger
During World War II, a pair of wealthy children hide their Jewish friends in
their plush homes so the Nazis can't find them. Rated R; 95m. In Italian with
English subtitles. Also available on DVD featuring
Widescreen
Original Italian Language
Trailers
$29.95
MELTDOWN (Columbia/Tri-Star)
Starring Jet Li
A soldier and a terrorist with a history go to war again in this action
thriller. Also available on DVD featuring:
Digital mastering;
Still gallery;
Jet Li trivia;
Filmographies,
Trailer
Widescreen
Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2-Channel Dolby Surround
English and French language tracks
English and French subtitles
$29.95
PROOF OF LIFE (Warner Bros.)
Starring Russell Crowe, Meg Ryan
The wife of a kidnap victim and a hostage negotiator work together to rescue her
husband but find their task become increasingly difficult as they being to fall
in love. Rated R; 135m; Also available on DVD featuring:
Dolby Digital 5.1
Widescreen
Behind-the-scenes documentary, hosted by David Caruso
Audio commentary by director Taylor Hackford
Trailer
Cast/Filmmaker career highlights
English and French subtitles
RE-PRICED TITLES (Columbia/Tri-Star)
The following films are re-priced to $21.96:
TRIXIE starring Emily Watson and Lesley Ann Warren;
SHOWER;
KIKUJIRO starring Kitano
VH-1 STORYTELLERS CLASSICS (Sony Music Video)
The stories behind legendary songs are told in this video that features
music, live performances and personal stories. Featured are:
Pete Townshend "Baba O'Riley"
David Bowie "China Girl"
Rod Stewart "Maggie May"
Steely Dan "Kid Charlemagne"
Sheryl Crow "My Favorite Mistake"
Jackson Browne "Barricades of Heaven"
Ringo Starr "Octopus's Garden"
Also available on DVD featuring
Bonus interviews and stories
Random song selection
Artist Profiles
Discographies
VH-1 Storytellers timeline
DVD-ROM weblink
VHS: $12.98; DVD: $19.98
PICKS OF THE WEEK
DOGMA - SPECIAL EDITION DVD (Columbia/Tri-Star)
Starring Matt Damon, Ben
Affleck, Chris Rock, Linda Fiorentino, Salma Hayek, Alan Rickman, Jason Lee,
Jason Mewes
The controversial 1999 feature is re-released in this special 2-DVD set
including the following features:
Cast and crew commentary by director Kevin Smith, Ben Affleck, Jason Lee, Jason
Mewes, producer Scott Mosier and Vincent Pereira
Technical audio commentary by director Kevin Smith, Producer Scott Mosier and
View Askew historian Vincent Pereira
Complete set of storyboards for three major scenes
100 minutes of deleted scenes with View Askew crew intros
Weblink to the official View Askew website
Cast and crew outtakes
Jay and Silent Bob's Secret Stash Spot
"Follow the Buddy Christ" figure
Talent files
Dolby Digital 5.1/Dolby Surround
Widescreen
English, French and Spanish language tracks and subtitles
Trailers
$29.95
Also new this week
THE CLAIM (MGM)
Starring Wes Bentley, Milla Jovavich,
Nasatassja Kinski, Peter
Mullan, Sarah Polley
In 1869, a man who made his fortune from gold-rich property has his way of life
dealt a serious blow when a mother and her daughter come to town and reveal a
shocking secret. Rated R. Also available on DVD featuring:
Widescreen presentation
Full screen format
English and Spanish language tracks
Closed-captioned
$26.98
DUDE, WHERE'S MY CAR? (Fox)
Starring Ashton Kutcher, Seann William
Scott
A couple of teenage stoner idiots party so hard one night they can't remember
what they did the night before despite the fact it could be important enough to
save the world. Okay, this film won't win any Academy Awards or be discussed in
film classes twenty years from now and it's about as close to a "Bill &
Ted" rip-off as you can get without lawsuits flying. Still, it's pretty
funny, assuming you can let yourself enjoy it at its basest level. If you can,
it's a lot of silly fun. If you can't, you'll be offended and outraged. Also
available on DVD. Rated PG-13.
OBSESSION (Columbia/Tri-Star)
Starring Cliff
Robertson, Genevieve Bujold, John Lithgow
Director Brian DePalma's 1976 film is released to DVD featuring:
Exclusive Documentary, "Obsession Revisited"
Theatrical and Bonus Trailers
Digitally Mastered Audio and Anamorphic Audio
Filmographies
Original mono audio, 2-Channel Dolby Surround and 5.1 Dolby
Digital
Widescreen
Trailers
English and French language tracks
$24.95
REPRICED TITLES (Columbia/Tri-Star)
The following films are released at
sell-through prices:
CHARLIE'S ANGLES; VHS $19.96
GROOVE; VHS $21.96
TROIS; VHS $21.96
URBAN LEGEND: FINAL CUT; VHS $14.95; DVD: $19.95.
And on DVD:
BAD BOYS SPECIAL EDITION starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence;
$19.95
STRIPES starring Bill Murray; $19.95
THE PATRIOT starring Mel Gibson; $19.95
RE-PRICED TITLES (Universal)
The following titles are re-released at
sell-through prices:
THE ADVENTURES OF ROCKY & BULLWINKLE starring Robert DeNiro, Rene Russo,
$14.98.
TRAFFIK (Acorn)
Starring Bill Paterson, Lindsay Duncan, Julia
Ormand
The acclaimed PBS mini-series, on which Steven Soderbergh's hit film,
"Traffic," was based, is released to VHS and DVD.
5 1/2 hours long. DVD features include:
Behind-the-scenes interview with writer Simon Moore and producer
Brian Eastman
Cast and crew filmographies
Production notes
For more information, please visit http://www.acornonline.com.
VH1 STORYTELLERS: THE DOORS, A
CELEBRATION (Image)
The stories behind the songs of the legendary
Doors are told in this special, featuring performances by members of The Doors,
Train, The Cult, Days of the New, Stone Temple Pilots and Creed. Also available
on DVD featuring DTS and Dolby Digital soundtracks as well as two bonus songs.